Drink Here Now: Five Places to Sip This Week

Taste America is coming to SF on October 4th and 5th. This cross-country food and beverage extravaganza features exclusive dining events, cooking demonstrations, celebrity chefs, artisanal tasting and, of course, drinks. You can attend such tantalizing events as the Sweet & Savory Indulgences: The After Party, taking place at 10:00 p.m. at the St. Regis Hotel on Friday, October 4th. Local celebrity chefs will be there in full force, and in addition, some of San Francisco’s best mixologists, who will be stirring up some delicious libations. Tickets sell out quickly for this event. After Party tickets are $65, and classic tickets start at $275. The St. Regis, 125 3rd Street.

On October 8, the 21st TNDC Celebrity Pool Toss,San Francisco’s splashiest party, returns to the always fun and weird Phoenix Hotel/Chambers Eat + Drink. Bay Area notables will voluntarily get ‘tossed’ in the poolto raise money for those less fortunate. Can you toss someone who is tossed? Guess you’ll have to attend to find out. The festive party will include a hosted bar and scrumptious bites from some of the Bay Area’s hottest restaurants, live entertainment by The Fabulous Bud E. Luv Show, The San Francisco Bubble Man, DJ Rafa S, Duniya Dance and Drum Company. Auctioneer Wes Sparling from Bonham’s will lead the high-energy, live auction, while the super-hunky lifeguards from FitnessSF will be on hand to rescue any celebrities who can’t swim…or just want to get rescued. TNDC Celebrity Pool Toss tickets are $125 each; sponsorships start at $500. Who’s ready to get tossed? For more information on TNDC’s Celebrity Pool Toss, visit the website, call (415) 358-3906, or email here. Phoenix Hotel, 601 Eddy Street.

Come to Union Square from 6:00-8:00 p.m. on October 3, for the first annual Fall Fashion Fest. Participating stores will stay open late and offer special in-store promotions such as food, pop-ups, gifts with purchase, discounts, refreshments, entertainment, designer appearances and more for locals and visitors to enjoy for one fabulous evening of fashion and fun.

San Francisco knows how to shop and party: bubbles while you browse, and cocktails while you coast from store to store. RSVP in advance for this unique experience so you can stay in the know for event updates and party hop with SF’s fashion crowd. If you’d like to make a night of it, Hotel Diva is the official event hotel and is offering a discount to anyone who RSVPs. Union Square shops, see website for details. Pick up tickets at the TIX Bay Area booth.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and lots of local businesses have decided to keep their charitable donations within the Bay Area this year. This means that you can belly up to the bar and help make a difference in the fight. The restaurants listed below are making it easy and enjoyable to support organizations that assist local women (and men) affected by breast cancer.

Bluestem Brasserie: an urban neighborhood restaurant in the cultural heart of downtown San Francisco. They are serving up a special Rosé. Bluestem features 12 wines on tap and will be donating $1 from every Rosé sold during the month of October to San Francisco’s Breast Cancer Emergency Fund. One Yerba Buena Lane, SOMA, (415) 547-1111.